In the Acknowledgments
to John Cooker's Cure
Your Democracy: The Infection, Spread and Treatment of Contagious
Opinions the author thanks his
wife Katherine, who has put up with his unconventional sense of
humor, which only has encouraged him.

And
no doubt, there will be readers that will consider this book truly
ridiculous and just plain nonsense. That's a pity, because if they
bother to do a little scraping below the surface, they will discover
an author that has a unique ability to perceive and express in an
ingeniously humorous manner some profound and deep insights
concerning human behavior, as well as the dangerous lack of civility
that we witness every day in our society. How often are opinions
tossed around without any thought or reason and moreover, without
valid research or accurate knowledge? We can spot this everyday on
the Internet and on various television and radio shows, particularly
the talk shows.

Cooker
informs us that America is witnessing an epidemic of two contagious
viruses that cause ordinary folk to become unfriendly, exhibit temper
tantrums, reddened faces, and irritable bowels. He terms these two
viruses Democratitus and Democratosis that both share the same DNA
causing the same symptoms in the same degree of potency.
Unfortunately, no one is safe and many are contaminated with these
viruses.

Full
blown Democratitus results in stress induced revulsion to Government
in any of its forms, which manifests itself in irrational fear and
actual physical repulsion. Insofar as Demcratosis is concerned, it
is just as serious, as “any endeavor that requires mingling with
the People at large or places faith in them causes such revulsion
that the accompanying fear paralyzes the infected.”

It
is these fears that are the underlying cause of the symptoms. What is
more dangerous is our inability to self-detect the symptoms produced
by these viruses. To illustrate, Cooke refers to TV host and satirist
Steven Colbert who has been infected with the virus in a way that it
has induced a drug-like effect of an outsized self-confidence, that
appears almost comical. Radio and television news programs are
particularly inciting in presenting a format of pros and cons
pretending that they are being “balanced” which insures the
irritation of both viruses.

Cooker
claims to have studied many victims over a period of two years,
particularly those who were in constant inflammation and argument,
and he maintains that their infection leads directly to varicose
veins and conspiracy theories. I don't think the medical profession
would come to the same conclusion, however, then again, many in the
profession lack the perceptiveness of Cooker or his sense of humor.
How about paranoia? We are told that in the case of paranoia the
viruses “have absorbed any ability to use rationality, and their
sufferers are at the mercy of exaggerated fears that become
manifested in a range of aberrations.”

I
just loved the chapter dealing with Audio Impairment
that kept me in stitches. Cooker blames secretions of dense wax in
individuals affected by the viruses. These sufferers hear distorted
words resulting in miscommunication. As an example, Cooker brings up
Sara Palin's totally mishearing of the proposals during her briefing
of a suggested Health Care Reform Bill. Although, as Cooker states,
this can be attributed to the cold winters in Alaska without ear
muffs and a fondness for shooting loud, high powered rifles at those
cunning, craft Alaskan moose. How about Bill Clinton's negative reply
when he was asked if he had “inappropriate sex” with Monica?
Cooker believes that because of the buildup of wax in Bill's ear, he
thought he was asked if he had “inappropriate socks” with her.
Other just as hilarious chapters cover the allergic reactions
produced by these viruses, the spread, growth and their
concentration, their opposing natures, their extreme manifestations,
predispositions of certain individuals, the history of these viruses
and the treatment necessary to become virus free.

By
employing humor, together with exaggeration, embellishment, and the
manipulation of words, language and thought, Cooker effectively
conveys to his readers larger truths, which incidentally may even
compel us to have a good look in the mirror and wonder about our own
behavior. Heaven forbid if we should be infected with these viruses!
Our family doctor won't have a clue as to how to deal with them. Fear
not, read the various treatment steps that Cooker presents to his
readers. You won't be sorry.